On November 29, 2021 On Target Laboratories, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company developing fluorescent imaging agents to target and illuminate cancer during surgery, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved CYTALUX for adult patients with ovarian cancer as an adjunct for intraoperative identification of malignant lesions (Press release, On Target Laboratories, NOV 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234596216]). CYTALUX is the first targeted fluorescent imaging agent that illuminates ovarian cancer intraoperatively, enabling the detection of more cancer for removal. CYTALUX, administered by standard IV in as little as one hour before surgery, binds to folate receptors that are overexpressed in most epithelial ovarian cancersi and illuminates intraoperatively under near-infrared light.
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"Complete removal of all malignant tissue is the goal of ovarian cancer surgery, however identifying all lesions can be challenging," said Dr. Janos L. Tanyi, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Investigator on the Phase 2 and 3 studies. "In the Phase 3 study, additional cancer was detected in 27% of patients, showing great promise in the ability of CYTALUX to help surgeons identify malignant lesions that may otherwise be missed during surgery."
Ovarian cancer is the number one cause of gynecologic cancer death in the United Statesii. Cytoreductive surgery is a well-established treatment for ovarian cancer, however, a study showed that among patients reported to have undergone optimal cytoreduction, 40% were found to have measurable disease on 30-day postoperative imagingiii. CYTALUX serves as an adjunctive tool for surgeons to identify additional malignant ovarian cancer lesions that may have been missed by standard visual inspection and palpation, increasing the detection of more cancer during surgery.
Adverse reactions consisting of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, flushing, indigestion, chest discomfort, and itching were reported during the administration of CYTALUX (see additional Important Safety Information below).
"This FDA approval is a significant milestone towards achieving On Target’s mission to make cancer visible during surgery so it can be removed more completely," said Chris Barys, President and Chief Executive Officer of On Target Laboratories. "We are excited about the potential impact CYTALUX can have for patients in their fight against ovarian cancer. Our goal is to make CYTALUX a standard of care for ovarian cancer surgery and we look forward to exploring the use of our technology for patients suffering from other cancers."
CYTALUX received Priority Review and both Fast Track and Orphan designations from the FDA. Additionally, CYTALUX is being investigated in cancer of the lung in a Phase 3 trial under Fast Track designation.
About Fluorescence-Guided Surgery
To date, there have been limited ways for surgeons to confidently assess the location and full extent of cancerous tissue while operating. On Target Laboratories’ targeted fluorescent imaging agents are comprised of a near-infrared dye and a targeting molecule, or ligand, that binds to receptors overexpressed on cancer cells. The imaging agents illuminate the cancerous tissue, which may enable surgeons to detect more cancer that otherwise may have been left behind.
On Target’s first novel compound, CYTALUX, targets folate receptors commonly found on many cancers, such as ovarian cancer. A single dose of the agent is administered via intravenous infusion prior to surgery to help the surgeon identify additional malignant tissue during the operation using a near-infrared imaging system.